RAY ELEMENTARY
Grant Team: Debi Price, Angie Moore, Shelly Hurley & Gina Covington
“Digging Science”
The 2008-2009 TAKS data indicated that Ray Elementary was below 90% in physical and earth science. The need existed to expand the resources to include an opportunity for students to experience daily examples of weathering, erosion and elements of climate and weather. To address this concern the Assistant Principal, Debi Price and teachers Angie Moore, Shelly Hurley and Gina Covington, collaborated on a list of materials that would be beneficial to the students. After being awarded the Hutto Education Foundation grant, the science tools and reading materials were purchased and made available to the students and the staff at Ray Elementary. Many of the tools are now utilized daily by students to analyze changing weather patterns and properties.
The non-fiction books have been incorporated into the reading lab and students can often be seen curled up reading and learning about science. With foundation support, the team is able to provide many exciting science opportunities to all students at Ray Elementary.
HUTTO MIDDLE SCHOOL
Grant Recipient: Cheryl Larson, Librarian
“Learning with Science and History Playaways”
As the newly hired Librarian for Hutto Middle School, Cheryl Larson looked for ways to lure students into the library. She observed students’ interest in the existing playaways and noticed they were anxious for more. After being awarded the 2009 Hutto Education Foundation grant, thirty-six playaways from Follette Library Resources were purchased. The exposure to these resources serves to enhance a student’s background knowledge, differentiate instruction and enrich literature. Benefits are experienced daily as the 600+ students check out the playaways from the library. The new biography and science/math audio books increase students appetite for more reading about our culture and learning important life-lessons. The technology itself makes students look “cool” as they go from place to place, listening to high quality, spoken word audios through the tiny earbuds. Then, after hearing a story, many come back to the library to specifically ask for a copy of the book. The playaways are another tool where the needs of students and expectations of education meet to promote, encourage, inspire, create and serve 21st-century learners.
HUTTO HIGH SCHOOL
Grant Recipient: Debby Guernsey, Librarian
“Electronic Research: Accessing! the World of Information Now and in the Future”
Ms. Guernsey, the Hutto High School Librarian, was motivated to apply for the Hutto Education Foundation grant to acquire electronic research resources for students and teachers at Hutto High School. The grant award allowed the purchase of several databases: US Government Online, The World News Digest, Issues & Controversies, American History Online, Modern World History, Ancient & Medieval World History, African-American History, American Women’s History, World Atlas, Science Online, Health Reference Center, Curriculum Resource Center, Bloom’s Literary Reference and Ferguson’s Career Guidance Center. Since these databases are continuously updated, they offer a more current selection of resources than the library’s print collection provides. As a result of the additional databases, students and faculty at Hutto High School acquired resources which are current, relevant and authentic for research and support of the school’s curriculum. A connection to the internet, with the new subscriptions makes the databases accessible from a multitude of locations. They provide students with unblocked resources to help them satisfy their curricular objectives.
